When 'goal-side of your man' doesn't apply

"Defenders have always been told to 'stand goal-side of your man.' Does this still apply given the many changes that have taken place in Gaelic football?" ? senior club defender.

We put this to former Kildare and Tipperary footballer Brian Lacey, who has a big interest in defensive coaching.

"There are times when all defenders should NOT collectively adopt such a position. It all depends on the type of attack the opposition is launching.

When facing an attack launched deep in the opposition half, the collective goal-side strategy is inappropriate. When the corner-back directly facing me (I'm playing at corner-back) has the ball behind his own 20m line, I should be standing between my man and the sideline.

The wing-back directly in front of me should be doing the same. Meanwhile, the full-back should be between his man and my corner-forward. The centre-back should be between my wing-back's opponent and his own man.

The corner-back and the wing-back on the other side of the field should be on the goal side of their men, however.

Think it through. The safest option for the player with the ball is a short handpass to his nearest team-mate ? the avenue down the line for a kick pass is covered by my wing-back and me.

A diagonal kicked ball into our half is covered by the position taken up by the central defenders and those on the opposite wing. It will take an exceptional ball into the opposite corner to get into a scoring area, and, even then, the corner-forward's path to goal is covered by the corner-back and retreating wing-back.

If forwards tackle well, defenders will resort to lateral hand-passing without making inroads into our half.

If the play switches to the other corner, with the ball still deep in the opponent's half, then defenders need to know that they should switch to the other side of their men.

Likewise, if a defender manages to burst through into our half, or we're being attacked at pace by an opponent, all defenders stay goal side of their men while retreating towards goal until the attack has ended.

All defenders should be aware of where they are at all times in a game ? and anticipate and react as a cohesive unit."

Club Corner is compiled by Liam Horan. Questions to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

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